Darren Wassall's side are gearing up for a two-legged semi-final clash against Hull City, the first of which comes at the iPro Stadium this Saturday in what could prove a tricky tie for County.

Hull have a number of players with plenty of Premier League experience, not to mention their manager Steve Bruce who bids to steer the Tigers back into the top flight, having been relegated last season after two years in the big time.

In the other semi-final, Sheffield Wednesday take on Brighton & Hove Albion, who narrowly missed out on an automatic promotion spot to Middlesbrough on the final day of the Championship season.

By virtue of the fact he spent five years as a Derby player, Shilton is of course hoping to see his old side - who finished fifth in the Championship this season - get back to the big time for the first time since 2008.

“I hope that the Premier League is looming for Derby and they can be up at the top alongside another of my old clubs in Leicester City," he told the club's official website.

“I think Derby County is a tremendous club, it is a football city and the fans are great."

Shane Callaghan

Shane is a Dublin-based sports writer who swapped the football pitch for the press box upon learning that he was better with a pen than with a round bit of leather. Prior to joining HITC, Shane enjoyed spells with Sports Mole and Goal.com among others, while he was also club reporter for Irish football club Drogheda United.